Guide to Dog Friendly San Diego Restaurants, Hotels & Parks

Your guide to Dog Friendly Spots in San Diego

By Robin Satterwhite

For those of us who love dogs and live in San Diego, there is nothing like having our fur babies by our side. They are our children, our support, our companions, our best friends and the ones who give us a level of unconditional love that just can’t be found with two–legged folks.

Check out the listings below of dog friendly places in San Diego.

Restaurants

Dining out with Fido will not be much of a problem if you’re up for outside patio dining. Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe, TrattoraFantastica in Little Italy and The Edgewater in Downtown San Diego are just a few examples of patios where pooches can join for dinner. It may be more difficult to find places where they are allowed to accompany inside, but with our beautiful weather, why is indoors even an option?

Hotels

The W Hotel 421 W B St, San Diego | Reservations (619) 398-3042

The W Hotel in Downtown San Diego offers furry guests their very own beds, treats and “pet–in–room” door signs. This hotel and others alike often offer pet–walkers and sitters and can recommend different sites and attractions to take our dogs.

Dog Parks

These places offer many things to do with your dog in San Diego. Balboa Park offers three dog parks in addition to allowing our pups to saunter with their owners through the center’s beautiful cobbled streets. While dogs may not be allowed in museums, they can join in on such lovely activities as a picnic or concert at the Organ Pavilion during the outdoor summer series. Also in downtown San Diego, Seaport Village offers dog–friendly entertainment with plenty of shops, street entertainers and restaurants with outdoor dining areas.

Malls

With such beautiful weather, we have plenty of places outside to share with our barking buddies. Outdoor malls such as Westfield UTC allow dogs in stores if they are on–leash and Westfield even has their own Bark Park down the hill from the health–conscious and locally–sourced Tender Greens restaurant. Horton Shopping Plaza Downtown San Diego is another example of an urban location you can shop with your dog, but there are plenty more.

Bonus Information

Adoption Service

The size of our pet pals affects the public places that let us in, but shouldn’t necessarily determine the pup who will be the best fit for our urban homes. A relaxed Great Dane is much more suitable for a small indoor space than a hyper Jack Russell who needs room to play. It’s important to do research on different breeds and call professionals at places like Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe to find out if a good fit is available for adoption.

Grooming

City living comes with resources for our dogs that may have never even crossed our minds. In addition to mobile groomers, there are also urban–based pup–professionals who provide services such as training, walking and boarding. DogZenergy in La Jolla is an example of a resource to help with your canine’s needs, as well as providing socialization and fun adventures for our dogs. Their new app allows owners to book services, be notified when our dog walkers arrive, chat, receive pictures and even track our four–legged friends on their walks. Our pups never have to be alone too long and we don’t have to go without being involved with those furry little faces that fill our hearts.

Urban living comes with challenges for families that include these tail–wagging additions, but nothing that a little commitment and research can’t solve. If you’re not willing to put up with a wee bit of work, sacrifice and spending a few bucks, it just may not be the right time to adopt a pooch. But if you’re ready, you’ll be rewarded with a full heart, laughter and a constant companion that helps complete your perfect city life.